Game apparatus



Dec. 5, 1950 J, c, oc 2,532,628

GAME APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1948 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 GAME APPARATUS Jerry C. Koci, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Chicago Coin Machine 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 9, 1948, Serial No. 64,390

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a game apparatus and particularly to a shooting gallery. The invention in particular provides improved electric switching means for use with a pistol or rifle or other similar device useful in a gallery or in many systems where a device must be pointed in a particu lar direction and at a particular spot in order to obtain a desired result.

In a shooting gallery of the type where a weapon is supported on a universal mounting for aiming it has been the practice to attach one contact of a switch to the weapon support in connection with scoring. Fixed contacts carried on a suitable support have been provided for cooperation with said movable contact. The movable and fixed contacts have been small to provide for precision in aiming. As a result, pitting of contacts during use has been common and a frequent source of trouble. This invention provides a switch structure wherein target sensitivity remains unimpaired or may even be greater but wherein ruggedness and freedom from improper contact action and pitting is provided.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the drawing wherein Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a shooting gallery embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional detail on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and Figure 4 is a perspective detail of the switch.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figure 1, the shooting gallery may be of any type wherein the weapon is mounted on a support and capable of universal motion. As shown here, cabinet in having target screen H is provided. Cabinet I'll has panel l2 upon which is mounted pistol I5. Pistol I5 is carried on support rod I6, this support rod being rockable in any desired direction by means of a universal joint. Thus as shown in Figure 2, rod I6 is carried by ball I1 mounted for universal movement in ring 18 and provided with suitable pivots, one of which is shown at I9. Inasmuch as universal joint mountings for such devices are well known, no attempt is made to show in detail such a construction.

Arm I6 continues below ball I! and has attached thereto lever arm 26. Lever arm 20 may be attached in any suitable manner, such as by clamping portion 2! rigidly to the lower portion of arm [6. Lever arm 20 carries finger 23 at the end thereof, this finger being carried in any suitable manner as by bolting. Finger 23 has tip 22 which is rounded.

Rigidly attached to panel 12 of the cabinet or any other suitable support is switch base 25. Switch base 25 is preferably, though not neces sarily, of insulating material and carries a plurality of electric switches thereon. Thus as shown, base 25 carries switches 21 to 3!] inclusive. Inasmuch as all the switches are the same, only one need be described in detail. Thus switch 21 for example, comprises a stack of insulating strips retained by bolts 33 and 34. Clamped between the insulating strips are spring conducting members 35 and 36. These conducting members are preferably of thin, spring material such as brass, spring cooper, phosphor-bronze or the like. Contact members 35 and 36 carry cooperating contact buttons 31 and 38 respectively.

It will be noted that contact member 35 extends beyond contact member 36. Contact member 35 at its extreme end carries pointed feeler tip 40 extending downwardly through a suitable aperture in base plate 25. Feeler tip 40 is long enough so that it extends through the base plate for a short distance.

As shown in Figure 3, for example, it will be apparent that the contact members are normally open and that pressure upon feeler tip 40 in an upward direction will close the contacts. If desired, one or more switches may be normally closed and may be opened upon movement of tip 40. This may be done by having contact member 36 longer than contact member 35 and having the contacts normally closed and having feeler tip 40 carried by contact member 36. It is also possible, of course, to have the feeler tip pointing upwardly and having contact members normally closed. In any event, the contact members and feeler tip are arranged that a light movement of the feeler tip will sufiice for changing the electrical condition of the switch.

As many switches as desired may be disposed upon insulating base member 25 and feeler tips 40 for the various switches may be arranged in any desired pattern upon the base member. It will be understood that the electric switches are connected to suitable scoring means, not shown. Such scoring means will be controlled by the pistol trigger so that the pistol position during firing only is efiective for scoring.

By virtue of tip 22, it will be apparent that a point contact between feeler member 40 and member 22 will suffice for operating the switch. Thus the range of confusion which may exist outside of the theoretical desired point of contact may be reduced to a very small value. In

this manner it will be necessary for a player to aim the pistol correctly in order to obtain desired scoring action. At the same time, heavy contacts adequate for carrying required currents may be provided. The contact action is always uniform. This is due to the fact that the switch feeler tip will only be effective along its axis. Hence full contact closure or opening will result. By having the feeler tip pass through an aperture in the base, there will be guiding action to prevent the feeler tip from responding to an transverse force. Preferably the finger tip and feeler tip will both be smooth thus insuring proper contact action.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch structure "foratargetaimmust be moved with substantial accuracy to a predetermined position for actuating the switch.

JERRY C. KOCI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

